Leopold serres



(No Model.)

-L. SERRES. LAMP FOR GENERATINGAUBTYLENE GAS. No. 599,198. Patented F9915, 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEoPoLD SERRES, or CONDAT, FRANCE.

I LAMP l-OR'GEN ERATING ACETYLENE GAS.

SPECIFICATION-forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,198, dated February 15, 1898.

Application filedDeoember 29, 1896. I Serial No- 617,3 66. (N model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known thatI, LEOPOLD SERRES, a citizen of the French Republic, residing at Condat-sur-Vzere,France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamps for Generating Acetylene Gas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it the carbidechamber with two branches having openings at different heights, so that one supplies water to the upper chamber while the other supplies water to the lower cham'.

ber. The gas developed in the generator is led from the top of the same into a gasometer of an expansible form, such as a .Joellows, which is arranged below in the foot of the lamp. This gasometer increases in volume in proportion to the quantity of gas developed in the apparatus and the inside pressure will be proportional to the weight of the parts forming the bellows, and this inside pressure may be increased by providing aweight on the top plate of said bellows.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a vertical section through the middle of the lamp embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a 40 horizontal section on line X X, Fig. 1.

The water-reservoir A has an opening a,

through which water may be supplied, which passes into a second independent reservoir A, arranged in the middle of the reservoir A by means of a wick B, which draws the water from A to A in the manner of a siphon. Thus the level in the reservoir A is approximately constant and the supply of water through a pipe 0 of small diameter (not more than one-fourth of an inch) will be under a pressure of little or no variation. A checkvalve D is arranged in this pipe 0 to prevent through the middle. of the bottom and allows the water to escape through the orifices C 0 which are not at the same level. This arrangement is of the greatest importance for obtaining a perfect regularity of the light.

The effect of the difference of pressure will easily be understood in considering that the pressure on the two orifices C O is equal to that of the column of water from each orifice. When the pressure of gas at a given moment is equal to thatcorresponding to the Waterpressure fromthe orifice Oas, for instance, indicated by p in the drawingsno water will escape through said opening 0, while through the opening 0 some drops will still escape.

vWhen the pressure of gas increases in the apparatus,-the supply of water will be cut off in both orifices, and when the pressure diminishes that is, becomes lower than 19-- both orifices will give out water. Thus at the slightest difference of pressure more or less water will flow out, and the equilibrium will be easier reestablished than if there were one orifice only for the supply of Water. The admission of water is almost constant and remains always proportional to the pressure in the gasometen' Consequently the flow of gas will also remain constant, and therefore the flame will never vary, for there will always be an equilibrium between the gasometer and the pressure of the gas developedby the regulated quantity of water which automatically wets the calcium carbid.

Practice has demonstrated that the pressure is absolutely constant, for the gasometer remains inflated for about three-fourths and is motionless during the whole period of producing light. The gas-generator G is closed everywhere, and it is composed of three cups G G G", thus forming three compartments, ofiering a great surface of contact with the water and diminishing the inconvenience of the center of the same and having at the bottom a column K and at the upper enda'nut H. a tube L into the gasometer M. The side walls of the latterare made of rubber, leather, or other flexible material, and the top is provided with a weight N, being perforatedin the center'and carrying above theperforation a prolongation formed by a cylindrical cap N.

Thus the weight N can be guided on a vertical rod N which is rigidly secured to the bottom of the lamp at N Suppose the weight N has a certain number of pounds so that the innerpressure at 1.3 atmospheres will be'able to lift it. The same pressure will prevail in the apparatus as long as the reservoir can expand and the weight can trav elto the upper end of its stroke. When the weight cannot travel any farther and the volume of the reservoir cannot increase the inner pressure in the apparatus by overdevelop'ment, the gas will increase, and then thewater-supply will be automatically cut off, asherein'after explained; but aslon g as the weight is in equilibrium, supported by the inner pressure, the latter will of course remain constant, which is essential for the production of a quiet flame.

The gasometer is'at its bottom 1 provided with a'screw-plug N to permit of its opening, so' that water accumulated therein may be led off from time to time. The gas from the gasometer passes up to aburner P through a tube 0, (which conceals in the drawings the tube L,which'leads the gas down. The whole apparatus is inclosed in an envelop Qof any desired form. I prefer to make itin two principal parts,the upper of which carriesthe water-reservoir A, which may be taken off easily, so as to allow cleaning and refilling of the'cups G G2 G to'which access is easy when the nut H is unscrewed.

Although the gas can be developed in the generator only in proportion to the consumption, and consequently all danger of explosionand of overproduction is theoretically The developed gas passes down through impossible,nevertheless the pipe 0 is provided with a branch =R,whichleads to a box S, having on its top a small pipe R. If now an overproduction of gas should occur, the reservoir M having reached its maximum of expansion, the water in the pipe J will be pressed back by the gas and will be forced upward in a body in the leg0.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A lamp for burning acetylene gas having in the top near the burner a water-reservoir'i'nclosing a separate inner water-reservoir and having a wick connecting both reservoirs, the end in the inner reservoir hanging lower down than the other end in the outer reservoir, in the middle a gas-generator comprising several superposed cups containing the calcium carbid, said cupsbeing suitably-perforated to allow free passage to the water andto the ascending gases, said gasgenerator being connected with the waterreservoir by a water-supply pipe having a stop-cock and a check-valve and passing up through the center of the bottom of the gasgenerator, adapted to supply water into the same by openings at diiferent levels, one moistening one compartment and the other moistening another of the compartments, and having in the lower part a flexible gasometer connected with the gas-generator by a pipe and by a separatepipe with the burner, substantially as described.

2. Alamp for the consumption of acetylene gas having inthe top near the burner a waby excess of pressure to close said valve and to gather in said closed reservoir and to allow the excess ofgas to escape through the water accumulated in said closed reservoir toward the burner and having in the lower part a fiexiblegasometer connected with the gasgenerator by a pipe and by a separate pipe with the burner substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEOPOLD SERRES. "Witnesses:

CHILLAND ()LFRED, OoMPosIEUR J EAN. 

